Longitudinal heap handling system and method

ABSTRACT

The system is displaceable in a longitudinal direction of the longitudinal heap of earthen material, and includes a conveyor with an inlet close to the ground and an outlet positioned higher from the ground than the inlet, and a loading head adjacent the inlet of the conveyor. The loading head is operable to load material from the longitudinal heap onto the conveyor inlet during displacement of the system in the longitudinal direction.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The specification generally relates to handling a longitudinal heap of earthen material such as mixed soil and vegetation, or gravel, for example.

BACKGROUND OF THE DISCLOSURE

Non-paved road shoulders, of paved or non-paved roads, are often adjacent to vegetation. As time passes, the vegetation has a tendency to spread and grow on the non-paved road shoulder.

To maintain non-paved road shoulders in condition, it is known to use a grader on the non-paved surface to remove such growths by grading off an upper layer of earthen material therefrom. The removed earthen material can contain mixed soil, gravel and vegetation. When grading the shoulder of the road, the removed earthen material can either be moved outwardly, by pushing it into or towards a ditch for example, or it can be moved inwardly and form a longitudinal heap of earthen material.

Moving the earthen material into the ditch can have the downside of encumbering the ditch, and after a few years, it will likely become necessary to dig the ditch for maintenance. There are costs related to these digging operations, which add to those incurred when grading the non-paved road shoulder. These costs are typically incurred by the municipalities.

Moving the material inwardly into a longitudinal heap of earthen material typically requires picking the longitudinal heap up, which is normally done by a hydraulic shovel which loads it into a dump truck. Although this helps preventing ditch encumbrance, the operation can be relatively costly.

In either case, the soil and gravel which is removed from the non-paved surface eventually needs to be replaced, which also translates in additional costs.

Hence, it will be understood that there was a general need felt in the art for reducing the costs related to maintenance of non-paved road surfaces.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

In accordance with one aspect, there is provided a system for handling a longitudinal heap of earthen material laying on the ground, such as a longitudinal heap of mixed soil, gravel and vegetation material removed from a non-paved road shoulder by grading, for example. The system is displaceable in a longitudinal direction of the longitudinal heap, and comprises a conveyor with an inlet close to the ground and an outlet positioned higher from the ground than the inlet, and a loading head adjacent the inlet of the conveyor, the loading head being operable in rotation about a transversal rotation axis to load earthen material from the longitudinal heap onto the conveyor inlet during displacement of the system in the longitudinal direction.

The loading head can have a shaft transversal to a longitudinal displacement direction of the system, and at least two pushing plates extending substantially radially from the shaft. The pushing plates can be rotated via the shaft in a rotation direction for pushing a successive portion of the longitudinal heap onto the conveyor inlet. The pushing plates can be pivotally mounted to the shaft and biased in the rotation direction of the loading head to a predetermined radial position.

The conveyor can include a downstream section mounted to a wheeled frame, and an upstream section having the inlet, the upstream section being pivotally mounted to the wheeled frame to allow an up and down displacement of the inlet. This can allow the conveyor inlet to closely follow the surface of the ground, and limit the amount of earthen material which passes underneath it. The upstream section can advantageously be relatively short compared to the downstream section, so it can be less costly to replace if it is damaged by friction against the ground.

In some cases, the costs related to maintaining non-paved shoulders of roads can be reduced by separating, at least partially, a soil and gravel component of the earthen material from a vegetation component, after picking up by the loading head and conveyor. This separation can be achieved using a cylindrical sieve rotatable along a longitudinal axis inclined from the horizontal. The sieve can have an inlet end vertically higher than its outlet end, and positioned to receive material exiting the conveyor outlet. The soil and gravel can be returned to the road surface by exiting the cylindrical surface of the sieve during rotation, whereas the vegetation component can be dumped into a ditch, or loaded in a dump truck, for example, by conveying it from the outlet of the sieve.

It was found that returning the soil and gravel component to the road surface allowed an economy in the requirement to bring new material to the road to replace the material removed by grading. It was also found that dumping only the at least partially separated vegetation component of the earthen material in a ditch can result in significantly less ditch encumbrance than dumping the entire earthen material. Alternately, loading only the separated vegetation component into a dump truck results in reducing the amount of dump truck trips.

In accordance with an other aspect, there is thus provided a method of handling earthen material removed from a non-paved road surface by grading, the method comprising:

-   -   forming a longitudinal heap of the earthen material;     -   loading the earthen material from the longitudinal heap onto a         conveyor while displacing the conveyor into the longitudinal         heap;     -   operating the conveyor to convey the loaded material into an         upper inlet end of a cylindrical sieve mounted for rotation         along an axis inclined from the horizontal; and     -   rotating the sieve to separate a soil and gravel component of         the earthen material from a vegetation component of the earthen         material, including returning the separated soil and gravel         component onto the non-paved road surface, and conveying the         vegetation component to a lower outlet end of the sieve.

It will be understood that separating is to be understood as meaning a significant partial separation: there typically remains soil and gravel mixed into the vegetation component and vegetation mixed into the soil and gravel component.

The loading can include rotating at least two pushing plates about a transversal rotation axis for pushing successive portions of the longitudinal heap from the ground against, and onto the conveyor inlet. The at least two pushing plates being pivotally biased to a radial equilibrium position to aid the pushing action.

In accordance with still another aspect, there is provided a system for handling a longitudinal heap of earthen material, the system comprising: a wheeled frame body allowing displacement of the system in a longitudinal direction of the longitudinal heap, a cylindrical sieve having a sieve axis inclined from the horizontal, an outlet end, and an inlet end at a higher vertical position than the outlet end, the cylindrical sieve being operable in rotation about the sieve axis to return a first portion of the earthen material having entered the sieve to the ground while conveying a second portion of the earthen material to the outlet end, a conveyor mounted to the frame body and having a conveyor inlet, and a conveyor outlet leading into the sieve inlet, and a loading head positioned adjacent the conveyor inlet and being configured and adapted to load earthen material from the longitudinal heap onto the conveyor inlet as the system is displaced in the longitudinal direction.

In the present specification, the term earthen material is used to refer to all the relatively high density materials which are associated with the soil or ground. It includes soil and or gravel, which can have some vegetation mixed thereinto, and also includes small rocks. However, it excludes materials consisting solely of vegetation, such as cut hay for example.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a side elevation view of an example of a vehicle for handling a longitudinal heap of material, towed by a tractor;

FIG. 2 is a top plan view of the vehicle of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a perspective view of the vehicle of FIG. 1, shown without the tractor;

FIG. 4 is a perspective view, enlarged and fragmented, taken from FIG. 3;

FIG. 5 is a longitudinal cross-section view of the vehicle of FIG. 1;

FIG. 6 is an enlarged view of a portion of FIG. 5;

FIG. 7 is a perspective view, enlarged and fragmented, of a loading head of the vehicle of FIG. 1;

FIG. 8 is a view similar to FIG. 7 with a loading head protector removed.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

FIG. 1 shows a vehicle 10 which carries a system 11 for handling a longitudinal heap of material. In this example, the vehicle 10 is a trailer 10 a. The trailer 10 a is shown being towed by a tractor 12 for displacement in a longitudinal direction 13. The tractor 12 has a grading blade 14 which can be used to remove a surface layer of earthen material from a non-paved road surface, such as a non-paved shoulder of a paved or non-paved road, and form a longitudinal heap with the removed earthen material. The trailer 10 a has a wheeled frame body 16 having a trailer hitch 18 at the front. It also has a mobile frame portion 20 pivotally mounted to the frame body 16 at a transversal and horizontal frame pivot axis 22. The mobile frame portion 20 is supported on two wheels, which are longitudinally offset from the frame pivot axis 22.

The system 11 includes a conveyor 24. In this example, the conveyor has two sections, or portions: a rear section 26 mounted to the frame body 16, and a front section 28 mounted to the mobile frame portion 20.

The system 11 includes a loading head 30 operable to load earthen material from the longitudinal heap onto the conveyor 24, as the trailer 10 a is towed in the longitudinal direction 13. The conveyor 24 has an inlet 32 vertically adjacent to the ground, and an outlet 34 substantially higher than the inlet 32. The conveyor 24 is operable to carry earthen material loaded on the inlet 32 from the front section 28 of the conveyor to the rear section 26 of the conveyor. The rear section 26 is thus downstream from the front section 26 relative to the handling path of the earthen material. At the outlet 34 of the conveyor 24, the earthen material is fed into an inlet end 35 of a cylindrical sieve 36, provided at the rear of the trailer 10 a. The cylindrical sieve 36 is operable in rotation about its axis 38, which is inclined relative to the horizontal, to separate a soil and gravel component of the earthen material from a vegetation component of the earthen material. In this example, the soil and gravel component passes through the meshed cylindrical surface 40 of the sieve 36 and is released onto the non-paved road surface. The vegetation component is carried along the sieve 36 and exits through a lower, outlet end 42 of the sieve 36.

In this example, a secondary conveyor 44 is provided at the outlet end 42 of the sieve 36. The secondary conveyor 44 receives the vegetation component, and carries it to a desired location. The secondary conveyor 44 has an outlet 46 which is displaceable both vertically and laterally to allow orienting the secondary conveyor outlet 46 either towards a ditch alongside the road, or, by raising and turning it, orienting it towards a dump truck bin, for example. This mobility is also visible in FIG. 2.

The trailer 10 a can be displaced in the longitudinal direction of the heap by the tractor 12. As it is displaced, the conveyor inlet 32 is moved into the longitudinal heap, and material thereof is loaded onto the conveyor. The handling path of the earthen material is thus from the loading head 30, onto the conveyor 24, and into the sieve 36.

The loading head 30, the conveyor 24, the sieve 36, and the secondary conveyor 44 can be operated using hydraulic power. In the illustrated example, a hydraulic power generator 48 is provided on the frame body 16 for this purpose. In the figures, the hydraulic hoses are omitted, for clarity.

The support assembly 50 of the sieve 36 can be seen more clearly in FIGS. 3 and 4. The sieve 36 is vertically supported by two rotatable shafts 52, one on each side thereof. In FIGS. 3 and 4, only the right-hand side rotatable support shaft 52 is shown, though it will be understood that the support assembly 50 is substantially symmetrical, and a similar support shaft is provided on the other side. The support shaft 52 has a support wheel 54, 56 on each and thereof, which receives the curved surface of the cylindrical sieve 36. One of the support shafts 52 is driven by a hydraulic motor (not shown), whereas the other is idle. The support shafts 52 are inclined relative to the horizontal and thus give the inclination to the axis 38 of the cylindrical sieve 36. The inlet end 35 of the cylindrical sieve 36 receives the outlet 34 of the conveyor 24 for receiving material therefrom. The sieve 36 has a cylindrical sieve surface 40, and has an annular support plate 58 extending radially therefrom adjacent the rear end. Rear support wheels 59 are connected to the frame 16 at the rear of the sieve 36, and receive the radially extending annular support plate 58 of the sieve 36. The rear support wheels 59, by their abutment against the annular support plate 58, prevent the sieve 36 from sliding longitudinally towards the rear of the trailer 10 a. The amount of inclination of the sieve 36 can vary in different applications and the exact choice thereof is left to those skilled in the art. In can even be made adjustable in certain applications.

The conveyor 24 is shown in greater detail in FIG. 5. The rear section 26 is fixed to the frame body 16 of the trailer 10 a. The front section 28 is mounted to the mobile frame portion 20. The conveyor inlet 32 is provided on the front section 28 of the conveyor 24. The inlet 32 can advantageously be adjusted to be as close as functionally possible to the ground, to encourage as much earthen material possible to be loaded onto the front section 28, rather than passing under it. In the illustrated example, the vertical height adjustment of the conveyor inlet 32 can be made by adjusting the height of the wheels 21 which support the mobile frame portion 20. FIG. 6 shows how height adjusters 60 are used to allow fine tuning of the height of the support wheels 21. The pivoting displacement of the mobile frame portion 20 around the frame pivot axis 22 allows vertical displacement of the conveyor inlet 32 when the support wheels 21 encounter bumps or holes in the road surface.

Referring to FIGS. 7 and 8, the loading head 30 is operable in rotation to push earthen material from the longitudinal heap onto the conveyor inlet 32. The loading head 30 is supported by pivot arms 61, 62, which are pivotally mounted to the mobile frame portion 20. The pivot arms 61, 62 normally rest against the mobile frame portion 20, due to the weight of the loading head, but the loading head 30 can be lifted, and pivoted about the loading head pivot axis 64. Hence, the loading head 30 can pivot about the loading head pivot axis 64 independently of the position of the mobile frame portion 20 about the frame pivot axis 22.

In FIG. 7, the loading head 30 is covered by a protector 66. In FIG. 8, the loading head protector 66 is shown removed, in dotted lines. In this example, the loading head 30 includes a loading head shaft 68 rotatably mounted at the far ends of the loading head pivot arms 61, 62. Two pushing plates 70, 71 are provided on opposite sides of the shaft 68, and extend in a substantially opposite radial direction therefrom. The pushing plates 70, 71 are operable in a rotation direction 72 (shown in FIG. 5) by rotating the rotary shaft 68. In this case, each pushing plate 70, 71 is pivotally mounted to brackets 74 a, 74 b, 74 c, themselves affixed to the rotary shaft 68. Springs 76 a, 76 b, 76 c, 76 d bias the pushing plates 70, 71 in the rotation direction 72 of the loading head 30. Rotary stops 78 a, 78 b, 78 c are provided on the brackets 74 a, 74 b, 74 c, on the opposite side of the pushing plate 71 than the springs 76 c, 76 d. A similar arrangement is provided on the other pushing plate 70. The stops 78 a, 78 b, 78 c, serve to limit the pivotal movement span of the pushing plate 71 in the rotation direction 72. The springs 76 c, 76 d, normally maintain the pushing plate 71 in a radial equilibrium position against the rotary stops 78 a, 78 b, 78 c, but during operation, i.e. rotation, of the loading head 30 and engagement of the pushing plates 70, 71 against material in the longitudinal heap, the springs can allow the pushing plates 70, 71 to pivot in the direction opposite the rotation direction 72 to limit the amount of force exerted against the rotary shaft motor 80 by the pushing plates 70, 71.

Referring to FIG. 5, as the trailer 10 a is moved forward along the longitudinal heap, and the rotation of the rotary shaft 68 continues, a portion of the longitudinal heap is eventually pushed onto the conveyor 24 by the pushing plates 70, 71, aided by the biasing action of the springs 76 a, 76 b, 76 c, 76 d.

For indicative purposes, in the example described above, the rotation speed of the rotary shaft 68 is of about 60 RPM. The speed of the tractor is adapted to the amount of earthen material, and to its density. When there is less material to handle, the speed of the vehicle can typically be increased. The horizontal component of the speed of the front section 28 of the conveyor 24 is adjusted to be at least that of the displacement speed of the system 11. The rear section 26 of the conveyor is adjusted to be at least as fast as the front section 28, to reduce the likelihood of material accumulation. To this end, the front section 28 and the rear section 26 can be drivingly linked to one another. In this example, the sieve has 2 inch mesh, and is rotated at a speed of about 30 to 60 RPM.

It shall be understood that the example described above and illustrated is intended to be exemplary only. Various alternatives, variants and equivalents can be present in alternate embodiments of the system. For instance, in certain applications, the secondary conveyor and the sieve can be entirely omitted. The material can be loaded using a loading head onto the conveyor, and can be carried with the conveyor directly to a dump truck, for example.

In the example, the longitudinal heap handling system has several components provided in the form of a towable trailer. It will be understood that the system can alternately be provided directly as part of a specialized motorized vehicle, instead of being towed as a trailer, and that components of the system can be shared differently between a towing vehicle and a trailer.

In some applications, it can be advantageous to provide closing plates to block off the meshed walls of the sieve, to allow converting the trailer to a non-sieving trailer. In such a case, the loaded material will pass through the sieve and be carried directly onto the secondary conveyor by the closing plates. This can be advantageous in cases where it is desired to load the material into a dump truck without sieving.

The system can be used to handle longitudinal heaps of earthen materials other than grading residues from non-paved road surfaces. For example, the system can be adapted to handle a longitudinal heap of 0″ to ¾″ gravel, or rocks, which can be aligned using a stone rake, for example.

In the example above-described, the loading head, conveyor, and sieve are aligned in a substantially longitudinal manner. It will be understood that alternate embodiments can be provided where one or more of these components would not be aligned in the longitudinal direction.

The protector cover of the loading head is provided essentially to keep material from being thrown by the rotary head, and to act as a barrier to dissuade persons from placing their limbs in the rotation span of the rotary head. In certain applications, the loading head cover can be omitted.

Various alternate configurations can be used to support and rotate the sieve.

Power systems other than an auxiliary hydraulic power unit can be used to drive one or more of the powered components of the system.

Instead of being provided in two sections, the conveyor can be provided as a single section. However, it is believed that it is advantageous to provide a front section of the conveyor with an inlet of adjustable height, or having a height which can vary depending on unevenness of the ground. It can also be advantageous that the front section of the conveyor be made of a conveyor material having a greater resistance than the conveyor material used in the rear section of the conveyor, because the conveyor inlet can have a tendency to friction against the ground, and thus be submitted to more wear.

In alternate embodiments, the loading head can be entirely different than the one depicted and illustrated. For instance, a rotary brush mounted on a transversal rotation axis can be used in certain applications. Alternately, a shovel member attached upstream of the front of the conveyor inlet can be used as a loading head. Other equivalents of rotary loading heads can also be used. In alternate embodiments, it may not be necessary to use a loading head which is pivotable independently from a front portion of a conveyor. For example, a simple shovel member may suffice.

It will therefore be understood that the example described above and illustrated is intended to be exemplary only. The scope of the invention(s) is intended to be indicated solely by the appended claims. 

1. A system for handling a longitudinal heap of earthen material laying on the ground, the system being displaceable in a longitudinal direction of the longitudinal heap, and comprising a conveyor with an inlet close to the ground and an outlet positioned higher from the ground than the inlet, and a loading head adjacent the inlet of the conveyor, the loading head being operable in rotation about a transversal rotation axis to load earthen material from the longitudinal heap onto the conveyor inlet during displacement of the system in the longitudinal direction.
 2. The system of claim 1 wherein the conveyor includes a downstream section mounted to a wheeled frame, and an upstream section having the inlet, the upstream section being pivotally mounted to the wheeled frame to allow an up and down displacement of the inlet.
 3. The system of claim 1 wherein the loading head has a shaft rotatable about the rotation axis, and at least two pushing plates extending substantially radially from the shaft, the pushing plates being rotatable by rotating the shaft in a rotation direction for pushing successive portions of the longitudinal heap from the ground against, and onto the conveyor inlet.
 4. The system of claim 3 wherein the pushing plates are pivotally mounted to the shaft, further comprising bias elements pivotally biasing the pushing plates to an equilibrium position in the rotation direction of the loading head.
 5. The system of claim 4 wherein the loading head further has pushing plate pivotal stops providing a limit to the pivotal displacement of the pushing plates in the rotation direction of the loading head.
 6. The system of claim 1 wherein the conveyor includes a downstream section received on a wheeled frame, and an upstream portion, and the upstream portion and the loading head are pivotally mounted to the frame for pivoting about a transversal pivot axis positioned near the second portion, to allow up and down displacement of the loading head and conveyor inlet during displacement on uneven ground.
 7. The system of claim 6 wherein the loading head is upwardly pivotable from a resting position independently from the downstream section of the conveyor.
 8. The system of claim 1 further comprising a cylindrical sieve rotatable along an axis inclined from the horizontal, the sieve having an inlet end vertically higher than an outlet end and positioned to receive earthen material exiting the conveyor outlet.
 9. The system of claim 8 wherein the cylindrical sieve is operable in rotation to return a first portion of the earthen material to the ground and to convey a second portion of the earthen material to the sieve outlet end.
 10. The system of claim 8 further comprising a secondary conveyor having an inlet positioned to receive at least a portion of the earthen material exiting the outlet end of the sieve.
 11. The system of claim 1 further comprising a grader blade adapted to create the longitudinal heap of earthen material upstream of the loading head relative to the direction of displacement of the system.
 12. A method of handling earthen material removed from a non-paved road surface by grading, the method comprising: forming a longitudinal heap of the earthen material; loading the earthen material from the longitudinal heap onto a conveyor while displacing the conveyor into the longitudinal heap; operating the conveyor to convey the loaded material into an upper inlet end of a cylindrical sieve mounted for rotation along an axis inclined from the horizontal; and rotating the sieve to separate a soil and gravel component of the earthen material from a vegetation component of the earthen material, including returning the separated soil and gravel component onto the non-paved road surface, and conveying the vegetation component to a lower outlet end of the sieve.
 13. The method of claim 12 wherein the loading further includes rotating at least two pushing plates about a transversal rotation axis for pushing successive portions of the longitudinal heap from the ground against, and onto the conveyor inlet, the at least two pushing plates being pivotally biased to a radial equilibrium position.
 14. The method of claim 12 further comprising conveying the vegetation component of the earthen material exiting the outlet end of the sieve into a ditch alongside the non-paved road.
 15. The method of claim 12 further comprising conveying the vegetation component of the earthen material exiting the outlet end of the sieve to a dump truck.
 16. A system for handling a longitudinal heap of earthen material, the system comprising: a wheeled frame body allowing displacement of the system in a longitudinal direction of the longitudinal heap, a cylindrical sieve having a sieve axis inclined from the horizontal, an outlet end, and an inlet end at a higher vertical position than the outlet end, the cylindrical sieve being operable in rotation about the sieve axis to return a first portion of the earthen material having entered the sieve to the ground while conveying a second portion of the earthen material to the outlet end, a conveyor mounted to the frame body and having a conveyor inlet, and a conveyor outlet leading into the sieve inlet, and a loading head positioned adjacent the conveyor inlet and being configured and adapted to load earthen material from the longitudinal heap onto the conveyor inlet as the system is displaced in the longitudinal direction.
 17. The system of claim 16 wherein the conveyor includes a rear section fixedly mounted to the frame body, and an front section having the inlet, the front section being pivotally mounted to the frame body to allow an up and down displacement of the conveyor inlet.
 18. The system of claim 16 wherein the loading head is operable in rotation to load the earthen material.
 19. The system of claim 18 wherein the loading head has a shaft rotatable about the rotation axis, and at least two pushing plates extending substantially radially from the shaft, the pushing plates being operable for pushing successive portions of the longitudinal heap from the ground and onto the conveyor inlet by rotation of the shaft in a rotation direction.
 20. The system of claim 19 wherein the pushing plates are pivotally mounted to the shaft, further comprising bias elements pivotally biasing the pushing plates to an equilibrium position in the rotation direction.
 21. The system of claim 20 wherein the loading head further has pushing plate pivotal stops positioned to receive and stop the pushing plates at the equilibrium position in the rotation direction.
 22. The system of claim 18 wherein the loading head is pivotally mounted to the frame body to allow up and down movement of the loading head.
 23. The system of claim 16 wherein the conveyor includes a rear section received on the frame body, and an front section, and the front section and the loading head are both pivotally mounted to the frame body to allow up and down displacement of the loading head and conveyor inlet when the system is displaced on uneven ground.
 24. The system of claim 16 further comprising a secondary conveyor having an inlet positioned to receive material exiting the sieve outlet end.
 25. The system of claim 16 wherein the frame body has a towing hitch at a front end thereof.
 26. The system of claim 25 in combination with a towing vehicle having a grading blade operable to create the longitudinal heap of earthen material by removing a surface layer from a non-paved road shoulder. 